(READ FIRST) What should the next Bomb After Reading THING Be?

Also polls are still completely busted.

It's almost impossible for me to abstract my feelings on Sphere (I find both the film and novel to be incredibly tedious and just sort of aggravating (which is kind of my feelings on Micheal Crichton, and the works adapted from his unpleasantly interminable prose, in microcosm)), so, in answer, potentially? It really depends on the quality of the work in question. Like an discussion of two interesting things could compound the potential pleasure derived from such analysis, so, like, as long as the novel and the film transfigured from it are quality, then why not? I'd prefer ignoring awful adaptations, cuz they always eventually regress into pointless criticism of how the film misses the point of the novel, which is just useless. So, like, as to what I'd like to see as the next Bomb After Reading: I'd prefer something that's novel precedent was already exemplary and the film antecedent is equal or higher in quality (the two that immediately spring to my mind are Solaris, an amazing film that's novel form is also interesting, Crash, because I really like the idea of Dan Ryckert talking about fucking in car crashes for 3 hours and change)

@mb: Well, fuck. Is there an ETA on when they're up and running again?

How about book/game combo?

Going by the last UPF I say keep the Crichton train rolling and do Timeline. If you are so inclined you have a book, a movie, and a game to work with.

I think the book and movie comparison worked well for the podcast. I'd love to see them do a Philip K Dick book since most of the movies based on his stuff is pretty different.

Also, Dan would probably hate it so that would be entertaining!

Speaking of, I'd love to see a Ubik movie. I'm thinking Inception-y.

My suggestions

1. Rainbow Six : Tom Clancy

2. Timeline: Michael Crichton

3. Leviathan Wakes: James S.A. Corey

4. Patient Zero: Jonathan Maberry

5. Jurassic Park: Michael Crichton

6. Ready Player One: Ernest Cline

7. The Quantum Thief: Hannu Rajaniemi

8. I Am Legend: Richard Matheson

9. Hell House: Richard Matheson

10. The Mist: Stephen King

I specifically chose books that are easy to digest but aren't what I would call "fluff". I also didn't suggest any fantasy books since Dan is apparently deathly allergic to those. I think ten of these are fantastic. Even Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six is a great book for those who don't typically like Clancy. Not everything in this list has a movie to go with it, but I really hope that's not the criteria for this potential podcast/club thing. I think that will really limit what good books we could get into.

Edit/Update: I realized I meant to add 10 suggestions but only put down 9. I added The Mist because I think its a pretty great story as well as an interesting film. I also think its a great comparison of how a movie can create a better ending/conclusion than a book can. There's also some great references to other King works in both the book and the film AND this story was one of the inspiration's for Half-Life so there's a slight video game tie-in as well.

I don't think it matters if there is a movie. I didn't rewatch the sphere movie for the podcast even though I haven't seen it for around 15 years and I don't think I missed much.

As for the book, I would like to add another vote for Timeline since that is my favorite Crichton book. Also the movie version is the only movie I have ever seriously considered walking out of. Other than that I would prefer if they stuck with Crichton books since I went through a Ceichton phase in middle school and have almost all of his books already.

There's value to throwing a movie in there too, but I don't think it's really necessary either. I wasn't really interested in Sphere, so I skipped this one, but I'd be down if the next book is something I'd like to read.

I've been enthralled by James Corey's Expanse series. They're easy reads, but with huge scope, and yet never get too ridiculous or unbelievable. Also, I hear there's a Syfy series in the works. Maybe it'll be good...?

@ch3burashka: Indeed there is, but sadly I have no idea what to think of it. They cast a really young dude to play Holden, which I never pictured him as anything but in his mid to late fourties. They got the person I pictured, when reading, to play Chrisjen and Thomas Jane will play Miller. I just have 0 idea what they plan on doing in terms of story. Going off of how well they adapted The Dresden Files I don't have much faith, but I will still be tuning in to see how it turns out.

Space Jam: A Novelization

How about a Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy movie, TV series and book triple-threat?

Sphere seems to have largely been chosen for nostalgic reasons. I imagine the next choice will be similar. If they're actually open to suggestions, I'd recommend Charles Stross' "Glasshouse". It's relatively short, standalone and probably my favorite book (unless we're talking trilogies, duologies or decologies then anything by Peter F. Hamilton or Steven Erikson for sure) of the past decade. It also delves into some more modern sci-fi concepts like singularities and post-humanism. It combines high-concept sci-fi with a socially relevant plot and manages to be very accessible and easy to read. I normally find Stross a bit of a messy writer who has trouble keeping my attention, but this effort is laser-focused and engrossing. Not enough people have read this book. Highly underrated.

Also, I really need to get a subscription. I went and read Sphere (mediocre) and re-watched the movie (terrible) and then couldn't listen to the discussion because it's premium members only...

I feel like they need to do Timeline, just because Drew has referenced it so much. That seems like something that would work well.

I'd like to see them wrap their minds around Survivor. Or Invisible Monsters.

Yeah, Invisible Monsters.

Timeline the 90 minute game!

I mean the book and movie combination has Congo sitting right there, it would be stupid not to capitalize on it.

Book/movie talk is always interesting.

I want Dan to discuss Harry Potter.

I really don't think they should do another movie/book-comparison. I thought it created a lot of air that goes into some fairly uninteresting minutia that only revolves around people literally saying "this is how they did this plot point in the movie" and then everyone continues talking. If the format is going over the plot and notes as they go, this really just adds a ton of empty space into the podcast. I really think it could've been under three hours with ease had there not been so many moments where the differences between the film and the book were pointed out purely out of interest in... well, pointing it out.

Another vote for Crash. The only problem is that it's an adult read with themes to match.

I don't think it would NEED to be a movie/book combo, but I did enjoy the comparisons in the Sphere podcast.

Although I know it wouldn't happen, I think it'd be neat to hear Drew/Mary/Chris/Dan discuss the Akira comic (and maybe the movie). One of the biggest problems with doing that would be the fact that the comic has a LOT more characters, events, and side-plots, so going into the same amount of detail as they did with Sphere would take forever.

:o

*edit: I added in an answer to the actual question

Something good this time please? (Or rather, something I think is good. IT'S ALL ABOUT ME).

Jokes about Twilight and Fifty Shades of Gray.

I don't think they should take suggestions. I think they should do these podcasts whenever they feel the need to talk about a book. Like they said about Sphere. They just wanted to revisit it and talk about it.

So they should just do whatever. Also the podcast was great and I do look forward to any future ones they may do.

DUNE!

Dune!

What a spectacular book/movie combo! The book is amazing and the movie is such an incredible departure from the source materiL but amazing in its own right.

I would love for them to do one of Clancy's books. There are some really obvious choices if they're looking for a book/movie combo, but as you mentioned Rainbow Six would be great if they wanted to go with just a book. I think the Cold War spycraft in The Cardinal of the Kremlin would be right up Drew's alley, and I imagine that Dan would really enjoy Without Remorse.

For a book/movie combo, The Bourne Identity might be a good one because the book and movie are so wildly different.

And then get Vinny in on it.

@ch3burashka: Michel Gondry was attatched to directing a Ubik film but I don't think it's going to happen.

That's a hard book to adapt but I think he would have done it justice.

I was trying to think of what director I would want for it, and the closest I got was Nolan and how he did Inception. Michel Gondry would have been fucking insane.

Similarly, Luc Besson could at least make it look crazy.

Timely; we have a new contender for that.

http://kotaku.com/fan-is-turning-final-fantasy-vii-into-a-giant-novel-1670998604

American Gods .. because I'm reading that now.

Not crazy about the idea of another movie/book combo. Do a movie podcast or do a book podcast. Or both.

I hope we get a new book to read along with soon! Really enjoyed Bomb After Reading.

Movie book combo as I can watch the movie and at least get a little idea of what they are talking about, what I did with Sphere.

Just read Hell House for the 5th time. I think that's the best "Haunted house" book I've ever read. The original film is also on Netflix, so I'm gonna watch that again. I hope they go for that one, but I'm sure they won't. I have a feeling they might do another Crichton book, maybe Jurassic Park with Jurassic World coming around the corner.

Richard Matheson is such an amazing author. Still ticked they bastardized I Am Legend with that crap Will Smith film...

I really like the book/movie combo a lot.

Why not Metro 2033? There's a book/game combo!

we should read that neuromancer book that jeff talked about on one of the podcasts. I'd like a reason to read that.

Hahaha, as much as I love the BBC TV series are you sure they would make it through all seven parts?

Same. Seems like a logic next step.

Or maybe a Murakami novel? Start the crew down a really dangerous path.

I'd rather let them decide what they want to do.

Reading a book, watching a movie and then talking about it for hours is something that only really works when everyones on board for the title.

I'd like to see Dan Ryckert read and talk about Twilight

Starship Troopers is the ideal book/movie podcast.

Just read it. It is the definition of cyberpunk and just short of Blade Runner is the most influential thing in that genre.

I would suggest some Fantasy books, but I doubt anyone but Brad (maybe) would be receptive to that idea. Although Dan read Game of Thrones so who knows.

Edit: Oh shit! I thought of a great idea (says me). What if they read all the Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock stories and have a podcast for each of the modern BBC Sherlock episodes? One story one episode. It fits really well.

@internetjames: Yeah, 7 hours is nothing. That's a day/weekend.

If they are planning on continuing down the the "books with great ideas but little literary merit" path, as with "Sphere", then I support the vote for Neuromancer.

Don't forget the two TV shows! They were kinda alright, even though they were crippled by poor early 00's low budget CGI and cheap actors. I still enjoy rewatching them every now and then.